Rel (2018) s01e11 Episode Script

Mom

1 All right, guys.
A year ago today, we lost an incredible mother, incredible wife and a friend.
Uh, so to remember her, I got her favorite food: shrimp fried rice.
(CHUCKLES) Boy, are you crazy? It's 9:30 in the morning.
Ain't nobody gonna eat no shrimp fried rice this early.
Yeah, yeah, when did you even get this? I got it yesterday.
Ew.
Yesterday? Look, Nancy was like a mother to me, but I'm not eating no day-old shrimp for breakfast.
Nat, this is supposed to be a day of celebration.
How you gonna celebrate when you're throwing up all day, - trying not to die? - Okay, look.
If y'all gonna waste my shrimp fried rice which I refrigerated properly, by the way we gonna move on to memory sharing.
I read in a book that it can be actually therapeutic to, you know, grieve as a group.
So I got this box with (SNIFFLES) There's pictures of Mom in it, man Oh, hey.
Hey, hey, hey.
No tears.
Look, this is a celebration, all right? We're all just gonna smile.
I said smile.
Dad, I mean, I see you go through this box every night.
You know, you think I'm asleep.
Oh, you a Peeping Tom now? Dad, just because you're uncomfortable having emotions in front of other people, that don't mean that you can rain on our parade, man.
I mean, we grieving.
Oh, I am not uncomfortable having emotions, all right? I'm having an emotion right now, called irritation.
Look, look, look.
Look, guys.
Look.
Let's just stop giving each other a hard time, okay? Look, I'm gonna remember Mom the way I remember her every day.
I mean, she's in my heart, and, you know, I've processed her passing in my own way.
You know, I-I'm-I'm good.
Well, Dad's not.
He claims he's never even cried about Mom.
Oh, no, hold up now.
My generation and every generation before me? Strong.
Y'all remember the movie Gladiator? They killed his whole family.
What'd he do? He went out in a field, screamed one time.
(SCREAMS) Basically, he was good after that.
I did the same thing.
I was at work, I was kind of feeling it.
Lunchtime, went outside, and I screamed, and I've been amazing ever since.
Dad, you not a gladiator.
Oh, I'm not a gladiator? (DAD CHUCKLES) Feel stupid as hell right now, don't you? Bye, crybabies.
(DOOR CLOSES) This how we do it in the Chi On the West Side Where we always keep it tippin' Man, that ain't no lie Oh, oh, oh.
NANCY (OVER PHONE): Hey, baby, it's Mom.
Just called to let you know I'm going back into the hospital.
(LAUGHS) Call me back when you can.
Miss you.
Love you.
Hey, baby, it's Mom.
Just called to let you know I'm going back into the hospital.
(LAUGHS) Call me back when you can.
Miss you.
Love you.
Hey.
Rel, you okay? Since when did you just start walking into my apartment? All the time.
What-what do you want? I left my phone.
- Look, Rel, I miss your mom, too.
- Hey! Hey! Okay, she wasn't your mom, all right? She was my mom.
So you don't know what I'm going through, okay? Matter of fact, just get out of here.
This your phone right here? Just-just leave, okay? Excuse me? Look, you being real rude, and it's pissing me off.
But because I have a firm rule that I don't smack people on the anniversary of the day their mother died I'm-a smack your ass tomorrow.
Hey, Britt, Britt.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Look, I'm Look, I'm sorry, okay? I-I'm I'm struggling.
Look, I know.
It's all right.
If you don't want to talk to me, that's fine, Rel.
But you need to talk to somebody.
Maybe you should see a therapist.
You know black people don't see no therapists.
That's not true.
Metta World Peace thanked his therapist when he won the finals.
Charlamagne tha God talks about mental health all the time.
Speaking of God, Oprah advocates therapy.
See, all those people are rich, okay? I don't know any normal people that go to therapy.
Rel, normal people go to therapy all the time.
I go to therapy.
You see a therapist? I know at first, it seems weird to tell a stranger all your darkest secrets.
But after a while, you know, it's very freeing.
It's like having an emotional prostitute.
I'm not gonna lie, that that actually just sounds like a regular prostitute.
Okay, look, what if I say something stupid, right? And she start laughing at me? She is not gonna laugh at you.
Okay, well, what if I say something funny, then? Huh? Is she gonna suppress her laugh? See, I don't like her attitude already.
You ain't even meet her yet.
See, this feel like a mistake.
You know what I'm saying to you? Matter of fact, what if she fall in love with me? Rel, what are you talking about? I'm saying, I'm-a go in there, I'm-a lay on that couch, right? And she gonna just start looking at me deep in my eyes, right? She's gonna be checking out all this sexy chocolate-ness with glasses.
Rel, trust me.
She is not gonna fall in love with you.
Oh, so she thinks she better than me now? You know something? I ain't got time for this.
I'm out of here.
Sit down.
You're not leaving.
You're gonna go in that room, and you're gonna spill your guts.
She's gonna react appropriately, like she supposed to.
And when you leave, you will not only feel better, but you gonna tell her I referred you so I can get my 15% off.
Argyle McClaine? What are you doing? I'm Argyle McClaine.
Uh-uh.
If this gonna work, you need to be honest.
His name is Rel, he's in pain, and I referred him.
Mr.
McClaine, come on in.
Okay, you don't have to call me Mr.
McClaine.
Just call me Rel.
Okay, Rel.
Now, look, I know what the HIPAA laws are, right? You're not supposed to talk about anything we discuss.
But I need you to say that to my face.
Okay, there are doctor-patient confidentiality laws that if I break, I could lose my license.
Okay.
Well, uh, I killed an Uber driver yesterday.
Um, I See, exactly.
Look at your face.
See, I didn't kill nobody.
Look at you.
You're already about to tell on me.
I'm required to tell if it's about a murder.
All right, look, I'm just trying to figure out the rules.
Rel, this is a safe space.
We could talk about hypotheticals, and that would be fine, or we can talk about what's truly bothering you.
(SIGHS) I don't know, look, I I was selfish, I was a coward, and I did a horrible thing.
And what was that? Look, my mom, right? Um (SIGHS) She called me before she went to the hospital for the last time, and I didn't answer.
I didn't even call her back.
She fell into a coma, and she was gone that weekend.
I wasn't there for her.
Well, you know, life is sometimes busy, Rel.
And we don't know how important a moment is until it's gone.
See, but that's not what it was about, okay? I wasn't busy, right? I was just tired.
I was tired of being sad, I was tired of talking about cancer, and all I wanted to do was just sit around the house and watch TV.
I thought I had more time.
It happened so fast.
I'm sorry.
(MOUTHS) I mean, is that is that it? You just say sorry? I mean I was just giving you a moment.
But I think I can help you.
Well, if you can help me, start helping.
Okay? You got me here all broken up.
I need help.
Help me.
Jake, this is a happy day.
A day of celebration.
So I think I want my wife's favorite drink: a Chardonnay with one ice cube.
Coming right up.
And since it's a special drink, I'm-a give you a fresh ice cube.
'Cause most of the ice in here is old as hell.
Yeah, back in '98, they had a big ice sale, so I bought 20 years worth of ice.
Oh, hey, Pop.
Damn, Nat, why you keep stalking me with that box? When I put you out the car, say, "Check the windshield wiper," and I left you, that was me ditching you.
Look, I'm sorry, Dad, man, look, I'm just worried about you.
You can't keep your emotions bottled up.
I feel like if you don't open up, man, you're gonna end up killing somebody.
It's probably gonna be you.
You got to expose yourself to the memories, okay? Let your emotions run their course.
I found this picture of you and Mom in your matching jean jackets.
Hmm? Dad, I know it's tough, man, but you got to look at the picture so you can process.
Nat, I processed it, okay? I'm a warrior, son.
I'm here to celebrate, okay? Mm.
Great ice cube, Jake.
Come on, Dad.
Look, you used to wear this jean jacket all the time before Mom passed.
Now you never wear it.
- Just talk to me, man.
- Look, it's just a jean jacket.
I don't even think about it like that.
And you just messed up my whole day.
Pop? - Pop, I ruined - Yo, Nat.
Nat, come here, man.
Come here, man.
Look, bro, your father left without paying for his drink.
So you owe me ten dollars, playboy.
She was the glue to our family, right? She-she the one that kept everything together.
Kept all of us together.
And when my brother was locked up, she went and visited him any time they would let her, and my dad and her, they used to sit up all night just laughing and talking.
You know, she was the first person that held my babies when they were born.
My mom would just listen to whatever I had to say.
No matter how silly or small it was.
And the one time she needed me, I wasn't there.
I just wish I can (SIGHS) wish I could talk to her, uh and-and apologize.
Why can't you? Well, I don't know if you heard the beginning of the story she's dead.
Okay.
Let's do an exercise.
Picture that this is your mom.
Talk to her.
Okay.
(CLEARS THROAT) Um Okay, look, that's just weird.
I can't do this.
This is not my thing.
Rel.
I just want you to know you can move beyond this.
Just because she's passed doesn't mean you can't still feel connected to her.
Is there a place that particularly reminds you of your mother? Bennigan's.
The restaurant? Yeah, we would, um we would go there every Friday, you know, after school, just me and her.
Just our own time.
I mean, they had a special booth and everything.
(CHUCKLES) It was funny, my mom used to get the bill every week, and it'd be the same exact amount, but she still had an irritated face looking at the bill like it's a new price.
(BOTH LAUGH) I mean, we would just sit there and just laugh for hours.
(SIGHS) I haven't been to that place since she passed.
Well, why not go back? Maybe being in the place that you associate so heavily with her will help you engage with your emotions.
Lot of feelings will probably come up for you.
But you can also gain a greater understanding of what you really need.
Thank you.
You know something? Maybe I will.
Good.
Okay.
Well, we still have ten minutes left.
I mean, is there anything you want to let off your chest? Hello, sir.
By yourself? - Yeah, yeah.
Just one.
- Okay.
Hey, do you do you mind if I take this booth right here? - Sure.
- Thanks.
NANCY: Hey, baby.
Mom? You got the good booth.
Hi, sweetie.
Okay, are you are you really here, or am I sitting alone at a booth, looking crazy talking to myself? Not as crazy as you looked this morning throwing that pillow around.
You saw that? Baby, I can see everything.
- Uh, e-everything? - Mm-hmm.
Don't worry, I close my eyes for the disgusting parts.
Also, you need to wash your sheets more.
Boy, I did not raise you that way.
Look, Mom, it's-it's, um there's something I want to say to you.
Um The last time you called I'm sorry I didn't answer the phone or didn't call you back, I - I'm sorry I wasn't there for you.
- Son.
I didn't like seeing myself sick, either.
You know, I still got the you know I still got the voice mail? Uh, I listen to it almost every day.
I-I didn't know you was gonna Look, I know that you think you're here because you want me to forgive you.
But really, you need to forgive yourself.
I know you love me.
I've always known.
- You ready to order, sir? - Uh, yeah.
Um uh, let me do the loaded nachos and hot wings.
Thank you.
Two appetizers? It's a good thing I'm not paying this time.
I'm so afraid.
I feel like everything is just went wrong.
My marriage failed, and and the kids are in Cleveland.
And I thought you would still be here.
(HEAVY SIGH) It's just not fair, you know? Baby.
Life is unfair.
But you're not alone.
Your dad, now he can be stubborn, but he needs you.
And Nat well, he has my heart.
So let him grieve with you.
And remember I love you.
And I want to see you happy.
(VOICE SHAKING): I just feel like such a bad son.
- You know? - Oh, no.
No, no.
no.
Baby.
I am so proud of you.
You're a great dad, and you've always been a great son.
Now, delete that silly voice mail, because you're only dwelling in your own guilt.
I love you, Rel.
I love you, too.
So anyway, my week was fine, you know? It was good, I worked on some of the triggers that you told me, and everything (EXHALES) Look, just tell me what Rel said.
Let's focus on why you want to know what Rel said.
Uh-uh.
Nah.
We ain't doing that.
Don't use none of your little therapy tricks on me.
And how does it make you feel to think I'm using therapy tricks on you? W-Well makes me feel like you Hell no.
Mm-mm.
I know what you're trying to do.
But it ain't gonna work this time.
I'm here to talk about Rel.
Brittany, HIPAA laws prevent me - from discussing - HIPAA laws, really? You gonna let the white man tell you how to act? Huh? This is black therapy.
Okay, now we're delving back into your narcissistic Afrocentrism issues.
Damn.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
All right, okay.
So, what did Rel say? - Dad? - Rel? - What are you doing here? - What are you doing here? Hey, you know, me and Mom used to come here all the time.
It was like our favorite place, you know? Yeah, well, me and your mom used to come and eat, too.
You're not the only one that ate with her.
I was hungry.
I just you know, I'm just I'm celebrating right now.
For real, Dad? You celebrating? You don't know how I celebrate.
All right, damn, Rel.
I'm I miss her, too, man.
I've just been walking around thinking about why-why did God take her? Of all the people he could take, why'd he take her? Why didn't he take that dude over there? Really? Nat showed me the pictures of your mom and I wearing our matching jean jackets, and I was I was trying to prove I was strong, so I was gonna put my jacket on, and I grabbed her jacket by accident, and the scent from her jacket just - overwhelmed me.
I-I just - Okay, Dad.
Come on, it's all good, you know? It's-it's good to let it out.
Look, I was holding stuff in, too.
So, uh, so I get it.
Look, I thought I would go before her.
I never thought I'd be bound here by myself.
Look, you're not by yourself, okay? Maybe Nat is right may-maybe we do need to be emotional together.
Right.
Is that the jacket right there? Yeah, I've just been walking around with it.
Can I hold it? (REL CHUCKLES SOFTLY) (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) (SNIFFS) - (SNIFFS) - Come on, don't sniff all the smell out of it and get it off your body, man.
I don't know what kind of funk you got on yourself.
Man.
(DAD SNIFFLES) Dad, are you - are you crying? - I'm fine, man, I'm fine! No, it's-it's literally It's o it's okay to cry in front of me.
Damn you, Rel, you gonna make me cry in a public place! Now I can't come back here no more! Nobody paying attention to us.
Nobody saw it.
He did.
Now we're gonna have to kill him.
So, how was your day, Rel? I got in trouble for doing my British accent.
(SCOFFS) Where'd you learn a British accent? Mr.
Belvedere.
The old-ass white butler? (BRITISH ACCENT): How dare you, madam! A little class? Oh.
Okay, Mr.
Belvedere.
What happened? I was simply trading my baseball cards when this vile little beast came up and stole my Andre Dawson card.
And you know what I called him? - Rubbish.
- (NANCY CHUCKLES) So, you were doing something you shouldn't have been doing in class and got in trouble? Bob's your uncle.
(NORMAL ACCENT): That means yes.
Well, Mr.
Belvedere, I should ground you, but (BRITISH ACCENT): I'm impressed with your accent.
Please, simply don't let it happen again.
(BRITISH ACCENT): Thank you, Mum.
Pip-pip, cheerio.
Now, what should we order? Mmm.
Fish and chips.
Bangers and mash.
(NORMAL ACCENT): Never mind.
Good.
'Cause that sounds nasty.

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